The Decorator – October-November 2020

THE

DECORATOR

The official journal of the Painting and Decorating Association • October-November 2020

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Dear Members, As I write this letter, there’s a definite autumnal feel in the air. Before we know it, winter will yet again be upon us. Just when we thought that COVID-19 was coming under control, with life returning to a

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similar but slightly different reality, it appears that we are in for another spike in infections. As we have seen, this has resulted in some regional lockdowns taking place. Clearly, we have to redouble our

/DecoratorMag

efforts to follow guidelines and social distancing measures to weather the storm.

We will continue to update you, as we have been doing over the last six months, via our website

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and newsletter. My regular contact with Government Ministers has helped to put the PDA well and truly on their radar, providing updates and answers to questions I have submitted.

On a more cheerful note, I can confirm that our new website is nearing completion, and before the end of November we will have a release date and more information to share with you. The new site will be more user friendly with a more interactive interface.

As many of you will be aware, the National Painting & Decorating Show was cancelled this year due to the pandemic. However, the organisers have done a fantastic job in setting up a Virtual Trade Show at online.paintshow.co.uk running from 21 September through to 31 October. Please visit the site and take a look at the exhibitors, including an offering from the PDA. Throughout this period, we are hosting a competition for Members to have the chance of winning a top of the range Samsung Galaxy tablet!

Looking ahead to 2021, as well as the rescheduled date for the Premier Trophy Awards on 1 July, our Apprentice competitions have also been rescheduled. Next year there will be Northern, Midland and Southern heats which will all take place in May. In addition, the highly popular Apprentice Wallpaper Hanger of the Year competition will take place on 1 June at Doncaster Hub College.

On a different note, I wish to thank all of you who took part on in our Marketing your business webinar which took place in September. We had some great feedback and will be hosting other business-related seminars in the future.

This year our AGM will be via an online portal embedded within our e-newsletter (further details are given in this magazine). My Chief Executive’s report, a financial statement from our National Treasurer and Management Board nominations will all be included on the page. There will be a comments box which will also have ‘For and Against’ tick boxes where you will record your votes. The e-newsletter will be sent out on 24 November.

If any of you have any queries, questions or suggestions that you wish to put forward about any aspects of the Association, please pass them on to me at head office either via phone or to the email address shown below. Any comments will be put forward for discussion to the Management Board meeting on 9 December.

So, for now, please take care, follow the guidelines and stay healthy. I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible in the near future.

Neil Ogilvie Chief Executive neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

elsewhere in this issue...

4 Association News 14 Members News 18 Training and Education 20 FAQ with Charlie Budd 22 Health and Safety 24 The Gallery 26 Industry News 30 Colour trends 32 Case studies 36 Tooltalk with Wayne de Wet 38 Products and services

THE

DECORATOR

Painting & Decorating Association 32 Coton Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5TW Telephone: 024 7635 3776 e-mail: info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk web: www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk Chief Executive Officer Neil Ogilvie neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

October-November 2020 — Volume 89 No 5 The Decorator is published by Catherine Saint Publicity on behalf of the Painting & Decorating Association PDA Editorial Neil Ogilvie Telephone: 07796 942474 e-mail: neil@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

Advertising and Editorial Catherine Saint Publicity Telephone: 07941 590183 e-mail: catherine.saint@yahoo.co.uk Artworking and Design empathicVisions Telephone: 07789 725074 e-mail: info@empathicvisions.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held by the Association. Editorial items in this publication and the statements and opinions expressed thereon are published on the understanding that the author of the contribution is solely responsible for the opinions so expressed. Although every care is taken with advertising, no responsibility can be accepted by the published for their products, services and other matters advertised. The publisher will not be liable for any loss or damage consequential or otherwise occasioned by error, late publication or the failure of an advertisement to appear in any cause whatsoever.

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ASSOCIATION NEWS @thePDA

takeNOTICE

facebook.com/thePDA

The latest news and updates about the PDA and wider issues across our industry.

If you have something to contrubite email info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

CORONAVIRUS PDA UPDATES

KEEP WORKING SAFELY www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk/covid-19-faqs The Painting and Decorating Association has put together all the information and advice, including guidance on hygiene and safety measures in a special area of our website. This is updated on a daily basis and is a useful resource for PDA Members collating guidance and links to Government, HSE and sector-specific information.

We will support you as much as possible, and we urge all Members to abide by the government guidelines and safe working practices outlined in our guidance. It is only with everyone working safely that we will be able to contain the spread of this virus.

We wish everyone well and please do get in touch with the PDA Head Office if you require any assistance.

Telephone: 024 7635 3776

Email: info@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk

PDA AT THE ONLINE P&D SHOW From paints and wallcoverings, to tools and applicators, colour trends, textures and techniques – this show brings together the latest in product innovation from many of the biggest names and brands in the decorating industry. The event is running until the end of October with show-only deals, free samples, how-to information, competitions and prize draws.

AGM GOES DIGITAL The PDA Annual General Meeting is to take place virtually this year!

All Members will be sent an e-mail on 24 November containing the AGM information. You will be able to download supporting documents and there will be an opportunity to feedback any questions or queries.

The following Members have nominated themselves for the vacancy representing Category 1 & 2 on the Management Board:

Head over to the PDA Virtual Stand and be sure to enter the competitions!

There’s a chance to win six months of your next Membership for free, and also the chance to get your hands on a top of the range Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1" Tablet.

Make sure you visit the Online P&D Show at online.paintshow.co.uk

Sammy Davies, NTD Sigma Mark Parsons, Mark Parsons Decorating Services Windsor Powell, Windsor Powell Decorators Matthew Starr, Director MDS Decorating Ltd

OBITUARY

Alan Moulton The PDA has been informed of the death of former PDA Member and past President Alan Moulton who passed away from old age on 5 June. Alan’s business covered the north west mainly around Tameside and Oldham.

His daughter Lyn Moulton told the PDA, “My dad served all his working life as a painter and decorator. He was a Member of the Association for many years becoming Regional President in 1973, and we, as a family growing up, attended many of the functions, from dinner dances to regional weekend functions.

“My dad became President and I have many happy memories of the Association and the people. My son Jason Moulton served his apprenticeship with his grandad about 1994 and now has his own business of UKDECS who are also PDA Member Firm.”

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Please look out for the candidate profile and voting instructions which will be going out via e-mail to all Members in October.

After voting online the successful candidate(s) will be notified and the details will be sent out as part of the AGM. We urge all Members to take part in the voting process.

Please make sure that we have an up to date e-mail address for you, and keep an eye on our social media chanels for further notifications.

/thepda @ThePDA

ASSOCIATION NEWS

ADVICE for

our Members

LEGAL EXPENSES POLICY ONE OF THE many benefits which comes with joining the PDA is free access to its Legal Expenses policy provided by the insurer Markel, which provides up to £100,000 of cover for any one claim.

Full details of the Markel policy are available in the Member’s area of the PDA website, but some of the more commonly used areas of cover are Employment Disputes, Contracts for goods and services, and Construction contractors disputes.

In addition, PDA Members also have access to the Markel Law Hub, an online resource of expert legal and business guides, templates and content, provided by Markel Law LLP. Simply contact PDA head office to get your token to register on the Markel Law website.

Sounds great! How does the policy work and how do I make a claim?

The intention of the policy is to fund your legal costs in pursuing or defending your position.

For example, maybe you have completed a job and not been paid in full as the client is questioning the quality of your work or maybe you’re having to let one of your employees go in contentious circumstances and need some guidance.

There is a two phase process which has been agreed by the PDA and Markel, which must be followed when making a claim...

PDA Members get free access to the Law Hub, register via the PDA website and use your token code on the 2020 Membership Card.

Phase 1 – Advice line only Step 1 Contact the Markel Law advice line and talk them through the challenge you are facing.

Step 2 Follow the advice laid out by Markel Law and try to reach a compromise with the other party. In some cases that fall under ‘contract disputes’ the PDA may be called in to mediate and suggest a compromise.

Step 3 If no agreement can be reached, Markel Law will assign your case to a solicitor to determine if there is a 51% or better chance of success.

If there is not, you will be advised that your claim has been rejected and you may opt to seek the services of a solicitor privately.

Phase 2 – Markel Law appoint solicitor Step 1 Your case has met the 51% criteria and can be accepted. Markel will cover the Legal costs accrued up to a maximum of £100,000. Please note that for claims falling under ‘contract disputes’, cover will only extend to cover the amount in dispute – ie. if you are owed £10,000 by a difficult customer, the policy will only cover a maximum of £10,000 in costs to recover it. There may also be an excess to pay, which is detailed on the policy schedule.

Step 2 Markel Law will assign a solicitor to your case to represent your best interests and defend your position.

Step 3 Claim is settled. You can get back to doing what you do best, taking comfort in the knowledge that you have saved you and your business potentially thousands of pounds in unnecessary legal costs!

DON’T BE SPOOKED BY THE PAPER DEADLINE GoSimpleTax software submits directly to HMRC and is the solution for sole trader painters and decorators and anyone who has income outside of PAYE to file their self-assessment tax return.

GoSimpleTax calculates income, expenses and records expenditure for you, saving you on accountants fees. Available on desktop or mobile application.

Coming soon:

GoSimpleInvoicing Invoice on the go, straight to the customers email and populate your tax return automatically. Fully integrated with a number of online payment companies such as PayPal and SumUp.

WITH THE 31 October paper return deadline fast approaching, GoSimpleTax thought it would be useful to look at the options available to you so you can better prepare your self-assessment tax return.

There are three ways of filing, you can submit via the HMRC site and receive instant acknowledgement of submission.

You can also use commercial software to do this for you. Or, you can send a paper tax return to HMRC in the post.

Whichever method you choose, it’s important to understand your exact responsibility. For those who are self-employed or let out UK property, paper submissions can be complicated as they involve additional forms and documentation.

Be conscious of the deadline If you choose to file a paper tax return, don’t forget to do so before the 31 October deadline. Failure to do so will see you start being charged penalties from 1 November. We would recommend sending your paper submission prior to the deadline, either through recorded delivery or with some proof of posting in order to prove your compliancy.

You have longer to submit online tax returns. The deadline is 31 January, and you will be charged penalties from 1 February for any late submissions.

Organise supplementary pages Remember, it isn’t enough to submit the main SA100 tax return. You need to bundle it together with the rest of your documentation that references your property or self-employment income.

For any income as a landlord, all that’s required is to file an additional form (SA105) and submit it alongside your regular Self Assessment tax return.

However, with self-employment, the additional sections could be either the SA103S or the SA103F. The former is

for those who had an annual turnover below the VAT threshold for the tax year (£85,000 as of 2019/20), and the latter is for those who earn above the VAT threshold.

Be open to online While you may have historically always submitted your tax return by paper, the vast majority of tax returns are now submitted online. Improvements in technology and the extra three months to file are the main incentives to submit an online tax return. In July 2020 the government have mandated Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, by 2023 all self-assessment returns will be filed digitally.

Having an online account with HMRC allows you to not only extend your filing deadline but also check your details at any time to see how much tax is due and act accordingly.

If you’re happy to tweak the way in which you keep your records and adopt digital record-keeping, this will help minimise admin further, as well as enable you to submit your tax returns and automatically calculate your tax.

PDA Members receive an exclusive 30% discount off GoSimpleTax! Visit tinyurl.com/PDASimpleTax 6

ASSOCIATION NEWS

elcome W TO THE ASSOCIATION...

EUROPE-WIDE QUALIFICATION NEARS LAUNCH AFTER THREE YEARS of activities the Europa-Meister project is nearing its end, and the results mark a very crucial step for the Painting Decorating qualification.

Thanks to the strategic partnership between seven organisations from five different countries, a European Meisterbrief (Master Certificate) for the painting trade has been created as a quality label, comprising a multilingual competence profile (EQF level 6) and an e-learning course.

Within this framework, UNIEP covers a role of utmost importance in the delivery of the Master qualification as guarantee for a good training performance for SMEs, being the competent body for the continued implementation of the candidates’ certification and assessment procedure, organising the examination commission (panel of experts) and delivering the official authorised certificate.

On 9 July 2020, the final conference of the project took place online, titled ‘Europa-Meister : a bridge towards certified professionality in the Painting sector’, it focused on the need of qualifications for crafts and the innovative approach of the Europa-Meister project.

Important speakers among European policymakers, entrepreneurs and representatives of EU Institutions, participated and shared their recommendations to identify and find solutions to the skills shortage in Europe: the Austrian MEP Hannes Heide (Committee on Culture and Education); Alban Maggiar, SMEunited President; Vladimira Drbalova (representative of the entrepreneurs at Business Europe and EESC); and Roman Horvath from the EU Commission (DG GROW).

It was a very successful event where the innovation of the European Meisterbrief and the main project’s results were presented to the wide audience.

Furthermore, the online video welcomed three young professional Meister painters who shared their life paths and demonstrated the benefits that the EuropaMeister project will bring to the sector and the labour market, attracting more young qualified people.

UNIEP and its partners are once again glad to contributing to the development of the sector improving the image of the profession, and look forward to sharing more results and achievements soon!

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HAMILTON HAS BEEN manufacturing decorating tools since 1746, becoming the brand that denotes quality, knowledge and expertise. With over 250 years’ experience of developing and refining products, and by combining innovation and new technology, Hamilton has created a portfolio of some of the finest brushes, rollers, tools and accessories in the market.

Hamilton recognises that paint has changed. This means that tools used need to change along with it, and because they are always asking end-users what they need, their tools will only ever get better.

Professionals are encouraged to achieve their most outstanding finish yet with their next generation Expression paint brushes, designed to give a consistently smooth finish, every time. Their ‘best of the best’, these brushes were developed in response to changing paint formulations and work exceptionally well with today’s paints. Each brush uses MaxStroke™ super soft filament tips that give an unbeatable finish, allowing longer paint strokes with less dips.

Their well-loved Perfection, Prestige and Performance ranges offer superb pick-up, coverage and spreading rates from brushes; minimal spatter and even coverage from rollers, and durability from tools and accessories of the highest quality.

Since humble beginnings, Hamilton have worked tirelessly to produce decorating tools that professionals are proud to use. Offering clearly tiered ranges that allow the user to choose the right tool for the right job.

Hamilton. At home in your toolbox.

@hamilton_decor @hamilton_decorating_tools www.hamiltondecoratingtools.co.uk

@citationltd

/CitationLtd

WITH 25 YEARS of nationwide experience, Citation support over 40,000 businesses with their Health & Safety, HR and Employment Law. From experienced Health & Safety practitioners to solicitors and barristers with many years of commercial HR experience, our knowledge and expertise is second to none.

Citation clients are 10 times less likely to face an employment tribunal, and 47 times less likely to receive a Health & Safety enforcement notice. They’re that confident with the advice they give, they guarantee it.

A 24/7 advice line means there’s always an expert onhand for guidance, and you can call as many times as you need to with no hidden charges or time limit, plus all their clients also have a dedicated local consultant.

They’re also not a one-size-fits-all provider but offer sector-specific, pragmatic and bespoke guidance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Citation supported their clients

www.citation.co.uk

to operate safely and navigate through many areas from risk assessments, social distancing, face coverings and PPE, to redundancies, restructures, and travel-related quarantine. Citation are now committed to helping their clients get ‘Back to Business’.

Citation offer support putting in place all the essential documentation you require and amending these documents in-line with legislation updates. Their online management platform, Atlas, makes managing compliance easy, including certified e-learning for you and your employees.

To help you win more business, they can also help you complete pre-qualification questionnaires and achieve ISO Certifications and SMAS Accreditation.

As part of your Member benefit, Citation offer PDA Members preferential rates. To find out more or book a free consultation, call 0345 844 1111.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

WINTER ECONOMY PLAN Announced 24 September Job Support Scheme This replaces the Job Retention Scheme and is effective from 1 November.

Employees will be required to work a third of their regular hours to qualify, with the Government and employer each contributing 33% of the employee’s usual pay for hours not worked.

Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) For eligible self employed who are actively continuing to trade but are facing reduced demand due to COVID-19. The extension will provide two grants and will last for six months from November 2020 to April 2021. Grants will be paid in two lump sum instalments each covering a three-month period. The first grant will cover three months’ worth of profits from the start of November until the end of January. It will be worth 20% of average monthly profits and will capped at £1,875 in total.

VAT Repayments Businesses that deferred their VAT payments earlier this year will now have the option to repay in 11 interest free instalments during the 2021-22 financial year, rather than in one lump sum at the end of March 2021, to help with cashflow.

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Bounce Back Loans These will be adjusted via a new ‘Pay as You Grow Scheme’ and will allow repayments over the next 6-10 years.

Business Interruption Loans These will also be guaranteed by the Government for the next 10 years allowing repayments to be staged across longer periods. www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/winter-economic-plan

FACE COVERING USE EXPANDED THE LATEST REGULATIONS require everyone to wear a face covering at all times in all indoor settings and on public transport in England. This is in line with the latest scientific research which suggests that face coverings help reduce the transmission of droplets and that policies requiring masks work to significantly slow community transmission.

The branded PDA face masks have been restocked and are now available in the online PDA Shop. They are made from high-quality breathable fabric with stretchy elastic straps to ensure that your mask will stay in place over your nose, chin and mouth. The fabric uses Coolpass technology making the material 100% breathable and ensures a better regulation of moisture.

The masks aren’t PPE-compliant but do meet the criteria recommended by the government, plus they’re reusable and washable too!

Click the Merchandise tab and log in at www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk to order yours today, only £4.00 each!

EPISODE 5 NOW ONLINE

PDA PODCAST SERIES LISTEN NOW! STALWART MEMBER OF the PDA, Bob Smith, has shared some of his knowledge and experience in the latest of our podcast series. With more than 60 years in the painting and decorating trade, Bob first became an active Member in the 1970s and now holds the post of National Treasurer.

Neil Ogilvie is hosting the podcasts and invited Bob to the PDA headquarters in Nuneaton for the socially-distanced online broadcast. Episode five of the podcast is available now at www.tinyurl.com/PDAPodcast5

XQLYDU6& FRP

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

S R E F F O E EXCLUSIV S R E B M E M A FOR PD

As part of the PDA’s ongoing pursuit of providing useful benefits to our Members, we’ve teamed up with our Associate Partners to bring you some exclusive offers!

GET ON TOP OF YOUR SELF-ASSESSMENT NOW We’ve got five free one year subscriptions of of GoSimpleTax software up for grabs, the HMRC recognised, simple solution for Self-Assessment worth £46.00 Five Members will get free access to the software by emailing us with your company or PDA Membership number.

As a bonus, all Members who enter will receive a link for a two-week free trial and 30% off the software!

• Calculates your tax liability for you without any jargon • Get hints and tips on tax savings • Submits direct to HMRC – whenever you are ready!

• Unlimited online support

email gosimple@the-decorator.co.uk by 31 October 2020 for your chance!

WIN A DECORATING BUNDLE! To celebrate their new partnership with Hamilton Decorating Tools, Univar Specialty Consumables are giving away THREE decorating bundles! The bundle includes a selection of Hamilton decorating products so you can get the job done, including: Hamilton Prestige Flat Fitch Brush – 5 Pack Hamilton Performance Cutting In Paint Brush 2" Hamilton Prestige Pure Synthetic Brush Box Set Hamilton Prestige Synthetic Sash Brush – 3 Pack Hamilton Prestige Soft Grip 9" Cage Frame Hamilton Prestige Soft Grip Long Arm Mini Roller Frame Hamilton Perfection 9" Medium Pile Roller Sleeve – x2 Hamilton Perfection 4" Medium Pile Roller Sleeve – x2

We’ve got THREE Hamilton bundles to giveaway!

PDA Members, simply email your details to univar@the-decorator.co.uk before 30 November 2020.

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Winners agree to the use of his/her name to be used in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winners or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current [UK] data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

When you need a paint you can rely on...

Bring your -Game

We bring our A-Game to the trade paint market.

Trusted by you, Armstead is the straightforward, no-nonsense performance paint range delivering exceptional value and quality to the trade.

“I always use Armstead Durable Matt, it’s great for high traffic areas and very competitive on price.”

Robert Whyte, Robert Whyte Decorators

THE SMART CHOICE Ask your local merchant about Armstead for your next project.

ArmsteadTrade

For technical advice call 0333 222 7070.

ASSOCIATION NEWS

t fi ’s ock en st om i n W ow N

WINTER IS COMING

Stay warm and dry this winter inside and out

PDA FLEECE Available in Navy and Black Top quality ‘symmetry fleece’ adjustable shockcord hem, two zipped lower pockets Available in sizes M, L, XL and XXL

£17.99

A whole line of affordable work wear and sundries such as quotation pads and van stickers are available to purchase through the PDA Website – Most clothing items are also now available in a choice of mens or womens fit!

Login to the Members area of the PDA website and click on ‘PDA Mechandise’ tab

SOFT SHELL JACKETS Available in Navy and Black Water Repellent finish, wind resistant, easy drying fabric, ideal to be worn casual or with collar & tie. Available in sizes M, L, XL and XXL

£32.99

POLO SHIRTS Available in White and Navy 50/50 Polycotton 220gsm quality garment with ribbed collar and cuffs. Available in sizes S to XXL

£10.99

w w w. p a i n t i n g d e c o r a t i n g a s s o c i a t i o n . c o . u k Alternatively call Head Office on 0247635 3776 or email sam@paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk 12

PRIME BLOCK FINISH

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For more information, please email: enquiries@bradite.com [[[ FVEHMXI GSQ

@Braditepaints

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

RoSPA GOLD FOR BAGNALLS SOLID FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE CONTINUES IAN WILLIAMS IS shortly to publish its audited accounts for the year ending 3 November 2019. Net profit increased significantly to £3.2m (£0.7m in 2018) returning to more normal historic averages after the completion of two large legacy contracts.

Andy Havard, managing director, comments, “2019 had been a year of investment, especially for our people and the way we do things. This has resulted in improved efficiency and consistency driven by empowerment, process improvement and technology. Although the outbreak of COVID-19 has had a considerable impact on our employees and customers this year, the steps we took in 2019 means we are in a great position to return from this unprecedented event even stronger.”

“Turnover for the period was flat at £81.2m (£82.4m in 2018), but the organisation focused on improving its productivity and efficiency resulting in an increase in gross margin. The total order book rose to over four times revenue, and equity levels were strong at £10.3m.

“During 2019 the company completed its first employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) achieving +26, reflecting high levels of satisfaction and an industry leading performance. This also aligned with high levels of customer satisfaction (NPS of +44).

“Investment in Apprentices, via the Academy, led to further awards for its training in particular the CITB Great Britain Apprentice of the Year Award.

“The continued investment in safe and great places to work led to an 11th ROSPA Gold Award and a 2nd President’s Award for health & safety. The company also made significant investments in technology and the creation of a ‘connected business’ that were put to the ultimate test during the recent pandemic. The organisation has also increased its operating footprint with further expansion in Manchester and Leeds.

“Community investment from the Foundation continued to increase, with the funding of over 70 employee led projects including the complete refurbishment of Southwold House, Bristol, for young homeless people.”

Andy Havard, Managing Director, Ian Williams

BAGNALLS IS ONCE again celebrating after winning an internationally-recognised award for demonstrating high health and safety standards. Bagnalls has achieved the RoSPA Gold Health and Safety Award for working hard to ensure its staff get home safely to their families at the end of every working day and that customers and the general public are considered in every stage of safety management.

Organisations receiving a RoSPA Award are recognised as being worldleaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running H&S industry awards.

Stephen Bagnall, Group Managing Director at Bagnalls added, “Receiving another Gold award for our commitment to health and safety sends out a strong message to our customers and colleagues. This message has been even more prevalent in 2020 with

the Covid-19 pandemic and Bagnalls has been at the forefront of safely managing this severe risk across its sites and offices. We will continue to strive to be first-class in safety and uphold the RoSPA and company’s values to health and safety management.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of qualifications, awards and events said, “The RoSPA Awards scheme receives entries from organisations around the world, making it one of the most sought-after global accolades in health and safety. We want every employee, wherever they are, to work safe in the knowledge that they will be going home unharmed and healthy at the end of every day. The winners are vital, as by entering they are driving up standards and setting new benchmarks for organisations everywhere.”

For more information about the RoSPA Awards visit www.rospa.com/awards

www.bagnalls.co.uk

PDA MEMBER AIMS FOR THE TOP AS THE DECORATOR went to print, Wayne de Wet was taking part in virtual semi-finals of the Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2020 competition. The winner of the contest gets £20,000 trade bundle consisting of tools, technology, and training to help them take their business to the next level.

Wayne, who runs Wayne de Wet Decorating Services, has been selected for his sheer passion for the trade, determination to succeed and demonstrating how he goes above and beyond the call of duty for customers.

Thrilled to have reached this stage, Wayne says, “If I were to get through to the final, I would be over the moon and it would demonstrate that all of my hard work has paid off.

“From the age of 18, I learnt fast that going the extra mile not only brings job satisfaction but also leaves my customers extremely happy. I’m keen to help the next generation and have even donated in excess of £6,000 worth of tools, paint and materials to my local college for its students. It has been a challenging year and I’m delighted to get through to the next stage of the competition.”

Ten tradespeople will be selected from the semi-final to take part in a virtual final, where trade experts will interview the finalists and select this year’s winner. The judging panel includes representatives from trade bodies and 2019 winner, Darren McGhee.

Danielle Sweet, Screwfix spokesperson said, “From over 2,500 entries, our semi-finalists have done incredibly well to get this far. Our annual competition is in its 11th year and each year the standard of entries is exceptional. I’d like to wish all of our semi-finalists the best of luck!”

To find out more about Screwfix Top Tradesperson and to see who will be crowned this year’s winner, find Screwfix on Twitter and Facebook.

Member of the PDA? Something to share? news@the-decorator.co.uk

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NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

RIVERSIDE DEVELOPMENTS FOR BELL GROUP UK THE RIVERSIDE GROUP are one of the UK’s leading Social Housing Providers with around 60,000 properties, and their history goes all the way back to Liverpool in 1928. Riverside residents are at the heart of everything they do, from the maintenance of their properties to the social value they provide to their local communities.

The group have recently procured a three year (plus two) Cyclical Decorations contract and Bell Group UK are delighted to have secured six of the eight regional lots available.

As part of any housing tender the role of community investment is extremely important and something that’s key to what both businesses stand for.

Anna Higham, at Bell Group said, “We understand the importance that our role will play for The Riverside Group and their customers, not only by providing good quality homes and services but to also shape communities, provide opportunities to address

disadvantage, enhance the environment, and improve health and wellbeing.”

Delivering sustainable social value activities is a key function of Bell Group’s Organisation, championed from top to bottom of the business by their CEO Craig Bell and MD Paul Steedman.

Craig Bell said, “Social value has been in our DNA since we were formed in the 80’s and I am proud of the fact we are able to continue giving back to both our own and our clients communities through our national team of Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs)” Bell Group have a National Community Team consisting of a Head of Corporate & Social Responsibility and twelve Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs) who deliver social value activities nationwide. Their responsibilities also include recording, measuring, and reporting on the success of each activity, the short and long-term impact our actions have on local people, and the relationships developed within the wider community. All Bell Group’s CECs have diverse community-based backgrounds and therefore bring a wealth of varied experience, enabling them to develop and deliver innovative and creative social value offerings. Their mission is to be a leading contractor for delivering social value that creates sustainable impact.

Bell Group’s extensive commitments to Riverside on this contract include employment opportunities, pre-employment support, careers advice, community volunteering as well as an array of health and wellbeing initiatives.

Phil Pemberton, Director of Assets for The Riverside Group said, “We are pleased to extend our current arrangements with Bell Group, following a rigorous procurement exercise. The group have continued to make a significant contribution to our social value offer during the last few years which has included the commitment to the delivery of an apprenticeship programme. We’re looking forward to the expansion in the development of the partnership and activities over the next three years.”

15

NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS

TOOLSdown A QUICK Q&A WITH PDA MEMBER

Daniel Kelly

How long have you been a painter and decorator?

I’ve been painting and decorating for 30 Years

Do you have a specialist area?

Personally, my own specialist areas are sash windows and wallpapering but as a firm we do all areas of work.

How long have you been a Member of the PDA? I’ve been a Member for 10 years.

How has membership of the PDA benefitted you?

It’s been a good way to great tips and news seeing other people's great works featured in the magazine. I am currently using the legal side of the membership the first time in 10 years.

How do you market your business?

What would you say to encourage young people to become a painter and decorator?

I would say to any young person you will have a trade and income for life as a good quality painter and decorator.

Are you currently training any apprentices?

We have over 40 five star reviews through our website, a lot of work comes from these and I do a lot of work from recommendations. We keep our website looking good and up to date with images of our projects, so we are always showcasing our work.

Are you on social media?

Not at the moment but we have trained apprentices in the past and will do so again.

What are the most annoying problems you come across in your work?

Taking on other people’s bad work

Yes Facebook, Twitter and Google for searches.

What do you most like about your job?

Do you have any tips on maintaining a successful business?

Always keep your standards high and produce outstanding results every time. Things don’t always go right but you keep at it until they are right. Leaving a customer happy is what we always strive for.

Daniel Kelly is a Member of the PDA based in Oxford, call on 01865 599 583 or visit www.dkellydecorating.co.uk

16

The outstanding results that can be produced time and time again

What products would you recommend to other decorators?

We use Dulux Quick Drying Undercoat – it is so efficient, durable and long-lasting.

It means you can get a window done in a day.

DANIEL KELLY

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Download your application form now from www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk or contact PDA Head Office on 02476 353 776 Entries must be received by 14 February 2021

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

EMPLOYERS URGED TO CONSIDER WORK AT HEIGHT TRAINING FOLLOWING THE RECENT Health & Safety Executive Workplace Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2020 Annual Statistics, which reported a reduction in the number of fatalities, WernerCo is urging people to carry out its Ladder Association accredited training to ensure the safety of professionals working on-site.

The report from HSE revealed that whilst there has been a 24% reduction in the number of fatal accidents from April 2019 to March 2020, the construction sector still accounts for the significant proportion of these. Additionally, fall from height still remains the main cause of fatal accidents, despite a 27% reduction in those reported.

Steve Lock, Director of Product Engineering at WernerCo comments, “Whilst the latest HSE report highlights that positive steps are being taken and fatal accidents are reducing, there’s still a long way to go to ensure the safety of workers. It’s crucial that people know what they are doing when using and inspecting access equipment, as this knowledge could make all the difference to safety on site.

“The Work at Height Regulations specify that competence is a requirement for working at height. So, simply put, if someone is not competent, they should not be using a ladder at work. Therefore, it is vital that anyone working regularly with ladders receives sufficient training in order to maximise the safety of themselves and those around them.”

The Ladder Association offers comprehensive training sessions for both ladder users and inspectors, and as a

response to Covid-19 has recently launched its new online training platform. Covering both the Ladders & Step Ladders for Users and the Ladders & Step Ladders Inspection courses, the online training sessions ensure that tradesmen can continue to gain the relevant understanding of working at height whilst face-to-face training is temporarily suspended. The online course covers the theory element of the traditional training sessions through a series of videos, after which delegates must attend a half-day session once training centres reopen in order to complete the written assessment and practical element.

Alternatively, WernerCo’s Ladder Association approved training sessions have now resumed having been adapted to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Suitable for users and inspectors, both courses comprise practical and

theory assessments, covering when and how to use, handle and store a ladder, as well as how to highlight potential hazards.

For equipment inspectors, delegates can learn how to assess and determine when it is appropriate to inspect a ladder or stepladder, and how to recommend the correct action if faults are found.

Those who complete either form of training will be issued with a Ladder Association certificate and a LadderCard, which remains valid for five years, allowing them to prove their competence and gain trust among their trade peers and potential employers.

To book your place on WernerCo’s training, contact them on 01621 745 900 or email uk.customercare@wernerco.com

PDA MARKETING FOR SUCCESS WEBINAR IN AUGUST, THE PDA ran the Marketing for Success training webinar in which Marketing Consultant for Staffordshire Chambers, Fiona Miller, gave some a great insights and information. Fiona advises multi-million pound blue chip clients through to sole traders with the aim of making marketing relevant and actionable to all sizes of business.

You can watch the full webinar on youtu.be/_E5Riacz3Dc Copies of the slides used, which contain lots of useful information, are on the PDA website – you can access them online at bit.ly/2RvOCwX

18

THE KICKSTART SCHEME is a £2bn initiative to help young people claiming Universal Credit, to move into the world of work. It forms part of a range of employment support initiatives announced in the Plan for Jobs in July. The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

PDA Member firms who would like to take part in the Kickstart Scheme but have fewer than 30 placements to offer can get further information and advice from the DWP. There is also a list of organisations across England, Scotland and Wales that have expressed interest in acting as a Kickstart gateway.

Kickstart gateways can apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant on behalf of a group of employers and will provide the support each young person needs to make a success of their Kickstart role, increasing their chances of securing sustainable employment in future.

Guidance on the scheme, or to find someone to apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant on your behalf, can be found on www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

PDA EDUCATION & TRAINING COMMITTEE WHILST 2020 HAS been a year of disruption for most businesses and the UK economy, a real cause for concern has been the social impact Covid-19 has had on the younger generation and how the quality of education, alongside significant breaks in learning, has impacted young people’s future aspirations as well as their personal wellbeing.

As businesses tighten their belts and focus on survival, it’s clear the uptake of Apprenticeships will inevitably suffer, and no surprise that the Government have chosen to put some weight behind incentivising employers who take on an Apprentice, in an attempt to steer young people into employment through a tried and tested training model.

Apprenticeships make perfect business sense and whilst switched on employers recognise how apprentices can add value to their business, many will turn a blind eye to the new incentives as they are unclear as to what actual return on investment recruiting an apprentice will generate.

Apprentices are an essential component for business sustainability and economic growth, particularly within our sector where there remains a shortfall in qualified operatives against the overall skills needs of the industry.

Over recent years there have been wide reforms to the Apprenticeship and Qualifications system; the introduction of the Apprentice Levy in England, the introduction of Trailblazers, and shift from Apprentice Frameworks to Standards, a review of the National Occupational Standard and Skills Test, the introduction of the Modern Apprenticeship programme in Scotland, Higher Apprenticeships, and more recently the introduction of T Levels.

Although these changes may be for the greater good there is no doubt that they have presented employers with new challenges and a different landscape from which to operate, particularly large employers who employ apprentices across all three nations in the United Kingdom, as the funding, programme content and delivery mechanism for Apprenticeships differ, resulting in a complex terrain.

The PDA Education and Training Committee has effectively evolved over the past few years, and Members themselves are key advocates in providing Apprenticeship opportunities. We understand that we have an instrumental role to play in providing clarity to industry on new standards and qualifications, as well as demystifying the rules and regulations relating to apprentice funding, government incentives, and promoting the business benefits of Apprenticeships to employers.

The Committee are fortunate to have a valuable cross section of representation and are strategically positioned to influence education and qualification decisions that affect our sector. Members take on a key role of engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, including engagement at ministerial level, and alongside the Association will play a pivotal role in the construction recovery plan.

If you would like more information on Apprenticeships, the work of the Education and Training Committee, or if you are a PDA Member interested in joining the committee, please feel free to drop me a line at j.lawrenson@bellgroup.co.uk Julie Lawrenson Chair, PDA Education and Training Committee National Apprenticeship Week 2021 will take place from 8 to 14 February 2021.

The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships will shine a light on the amazing work being done by employers and apprentices across the country. The Week will also recognise how employers of all sizes have stepped up to the challenge during this unprecedented time.

Employers are encouraged to promote the great work of their apprentices, whilst highlighting the many benefits apprenticeships bring to their business. Apprentices, at all stages of their learning will also be celebrated over the course of National Apprenticeship Week 2021.

To find out more visit www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers

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ADVICE AND TIPS

Storytelling with Charlie Budd

for decorators

It’s a difficult time for many businesses, and decorators are no different. It’s a constantly evolving situation where rules seem to change more often than the weather, and customers, whether they be domestic or commercial, are often cancelling or postponing work due to health concerns. So it’s more important than ever to make sure you’ve got a pipeline of customers waiting for your services, and however you promote your business, you’ll need stories...

As humans, we’re drawn in by stories. Since ancient times they’ve helped

You can use this basic structure to tell stories about how you solve

us connect to each other and make sense of the world around us – from

people’s problems in all your marketing using a ‘before and after’

oral storytelling around the campfire, to classic novels, to films and the

Facebook post, a blog, or a video. But, there’s one classic mistake many

latest Netflix series.

of us make – we write as if we are the hero. The best way to connect to

But what’s this got to do with you and your decorating business? We tend to do business with people we know, like and trust. That’s why personal

a potential customer is for them to be the hero, with you as the guide.

They are Frodo or Luke Skywalker, you are Gandalf or Obi Wan Kenobi.

recommendations are such a great way to get business – other people telling stories about what great work you do.

How to make your customer the hero

Storytelling in print

client’s point of view. Remember, it’s their quest to transform their property,

Even the words and the font you use on your van will say something

and your job to help them do that. Here’s an example:

Instead the story being about how wonderful you are, tell it from your

about your business – modern, traditional, friendly, professional? The

“Denise, a company director from Bristol, needed to turn her dark

same applies to print adverts, and advertising cards you post through

dining room into a home office. She found us from a recommendation.

letterboxes near jobs you’re doing. They cost money, so make sure the

We helped Denise choose a light, neutral paint colour as a good

story you’re telling in the few words and pictures is an engaging and

backdrop for video calls. Denise needed to be on video calls every

professional one, get help from a graphic designer if you can.

weekday, so we used our dust-free sanders to do all the prep at the

Storytelling online

in four days to a very high standard. Denise said ‘my colleagues keep

weekend and the quieter painting during the week. The job was done Most potential customers will find tradespeople online now, whether it’s

on complimenting me on how good my new office looks.”

a Google search or a Facebook request. Even if someone recommends

Denise is the hero on her quest for a new home office, and you are the

you, it’s likely that a potential customer will check you out online.

expert guide. A potential customer will find it easier to connect with Denise’s

Having some good stories in your online presence will set you apart from

story, and imagine how you can help them to solve their decorating problem.

the crowd.

Your turn to tell the story How to tell a story

Making your customer the hero may seem like a subtle change in emphasis,

One of the classic storytelling structures used for thousands of years, is

but it makes all the difference. Think about how car adverts focus on the

the ‘hero’s journey’. Aristotle wrote about it as a ‘three act structure’ of

gorgeous lifestyle of the driver, not the expertise of the manufacturer.

plays, but it’s basically ‘the set up, the obstacle, the solution’.

So think about how you can make your customers’ quests part

Donald Miller, in his great business book Building A Storybrand puts it

of your marketing, it’s a

another way, “meet the hero - they have a problem - they meet a guide

great technique for really

- who gives them a plan - and a call to action - the hero avoids being

connecting with potential

overcome by the problem - and succeeds in their quest.”

clients, and it’s unlikely

This structure is used in books and films from Star Wars and Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings and The Matrix.

your competition will be doing it.

Want to know more? Find me on social media!

Facebook Charlie Budd Twitter @charliebudd 20

Instagram @thetallphotographer LinkedIn Charles Budd

THE

ORIGINAL

MULTI-SURFACE CONSTRUCTION SEALANT & ADHESIVE

ob1original.com

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safe use of a Scaffold Tower or Mobile Tower

Watching the weather With unsettled weather conditions becoming the norm, it's essential to follow guidelines and undertake a risk assessment to ensure safety when working at height.

The starting place is the Work at Height (2005) Regulations. If you are using any item of work at height equipment in the workplace including a scaffold tower, either as an employee or as a self-employed person, the Work at Height Regulations applies to you. You must ensure that not only the person building the tower is competent but also those who specify, use and supervise or manage the use of a tower are competent to do so.

You must carry out a proper risk assessment before you start work, and the tower components must be inspected at suitable intervals and an appropriate record kept for those inspections.

Using a mobile access tower in adverse weather conditions • Don’t work on towers during snowy or frosty weather or in heavy rain. Doing so can cause you to slip.

• If the average wind speed reaches 17mph, stop work and dismantle the tower. Use a hand-held anemometer to monitor the wind speed while you’re working.

• The location of the site can increase wind speed significantly, such as between high buildings or at the top of a hill, be cautious of this.

• During risk assessments, check the weather forecast to make sure conditions are expected to be suitable for the work you’ll be doing.

• Check any guidance in the user instructions and remember you must follow them when you build the tower and have them on site – that’s a legal requirement • If you need to work in the vicinity of overhead electrical cables, rain is an added complication. Whatever the weather, consult the appropriate national guidance on working safely near electricity and your local power company for advice on safe distances. Always be aware of the flash factor (arcing), but especially in wet conditions.

• Following wind, rain, snow or frost, re-inspect your tower and the ground conditions. You must ensure the stability or structural integrity of the tower hasn’t been affected before re-starting work.

For more guidance on the safe use of mobile access towers, see the PASMA Code of Practice, which is available for free in PASMA’s app and hard copies are for sale on their website – www.pasma.co.uk

22

7d [nY[fj_edWb Ȉ_d_i^ ijWhji m_j^ f[h\[Yj cWia_d]$ Q1® Premium Masking Solutions for professional painters.

g'jWf[i$Yec%ka%fW_dj_d]%

gallery

The

J.W. Decorating (Scarborough) This period house required extensive repairs to timber and cast iron gutters with access from spider lifts. Prepared with Toupret wood repair filler and putty, the striking finish was achieved using Sandtex Xtra Flexi system in white and RAL 9011 green.

MDE Painting A tidy finish to this park home. The structure was jet washed and followed by an application of two coats of Sandtex in Cornish Cream. All pipe work and guttering were painted with Dulux Weathershield in black.

Stuart Smith Ltd After preparation and repairs another exterior restored to perfection using Dulux Weathershield.

Thompson Decorating Services All units were washed down and degreased with Tikkurila Maalipesu and then primed using Otex Akva and finished with Helmi 30.

You too can enter The Gallery for free!

For your chance to win ÂŁ100 of vouchers from Brewers and feature on our front cover, send in your pictures to thegallery@the-decorator.co.uk For use in the magazine and to be considered for the cover, we need high resolution, clear images.

24

On the Cover Before

Robert Alexander /duluxselectdecorator

The Perfect Painting Company This interior repaint was completed with Johnstone’s Acrylic Durable Matt on the walls and Eggshell on the woodwork. The striking contrast spindles were painted with Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell in Pitch Black No. 526.

After

The redecoration of this grade I listed building in Apethorpe gives it a fresh modern interior. All RSJ beams were painted in Dulux Trade Satinwood in grey. Kitchen beams were first painted with Zinsser Cover Stain®, and then finished with Dulux Oil Based Eggshell.

Absolute Painting & Decorating The grade II listed Old Watermill in Hellingly, East Sussex, required repair and restoration. The problem areas were treated with Zinsser Cover Stain. It was then finished with two coats of Bedec Semi-Gloss Barn Paint.

£100 of vouchers from Brewers are now on the way to Robert for their winning Gallery entry!

Sponsored by

25

SECTOR NEWS

P&Dnews SEE WHAT’S NEW IN THE AXUS DÉCOR FAMILY SINCE LAST YEAR’S National Painting & Decorating Show, PDA Associate Partner Axus Décor has been busy developing an exciting array of new products. Full details of which will be listed on their stand at this year’s Online National Painting & Decorating Show.

The first of which will be their innovative grey series S-Tex Jacket, a lightweight, water-repellent, windproof jacket that comes with a zip-off, adjustable hood which makes it perfect for work under tough weather conditions. It also comes with several handy pockets, an elasticated, adjustable waist, velcro-adjustable cuffs with reflective piping and a detachable, ID lanyard.

The second is their Decorators Caulk, an exceptional dual-purpose interior/exterior caulk that stretches as joints move to prevent gap recurrence. Its resistant to mould and has an exceptional adherence to most substrates. It can also be painted over with most types of paint and doesn't require the use of a primer.

The third is their Captain Chunk Paint Kettle 2.5L, a sturdy paint kettle with an adjustable, snug hand strap that is easy to clean. It has a built-in brush comb, pouring corners and will be released alongside their Captain Chunk Kettle Liners.

The fourth is the Abrazor Ceramic Oxide Paper, a self-sharpening abrasive paper for consistent effective sanding with minimal effort. It has a stearate non-stick coating and a flexible latex backing which provides tear, crease and water resistance. It’s also coated in a double resin which results in minimal grain loss.

They will also be showcasing an upgrade to one of their products, how-to product videos, a glimpse into their product development process and a sneak peak at some of their future additions.

Furthermore, they will be running a competition where you can get your hands on one-of-three S-Tex Jackets! So be sure to follow Axus Décor’s stand at this year’s show for great content and a few surprises along the way.

See Axus Décor on online.paintshow.co.uk/exhibitors/axusdecor

A STIRRING STORY ABOUT SEWING MASKS

SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

26

SPECIALIST WOODCARE BRAND Sadolin brought a splash of colour to the great outdoors for the pupils of St Georges CE Primary School in Bromley, Kent last summer. The colourful playground was the brainchild of TV gardener Danny Clarke, with Orpington Crown Decorating Centre donating 12 litres of Sadolin Superdec, an opaque, water-based woodcare paint that offers vibrant colours and lasting protection.

A team of volunteers applied the paint in an eye-catching repeating stripe pattern, using light blue, pink, orange, yellow, purple and white colours on the playground’s wooden picket fence, the timber that forms the raised beds in the school’s garden, and even on recycled tyres that the school used as planters.

The use of colour was key to the vision of the project, which looked to transform a dreary outdoor space into a stimulating and fun science garden where the children of St Georges can learn as well as play, long into the future.

The popularity of opaque woodstains, as shown in industry sales data from the British Coatings Federation, is driven by the trend for using vibrant colours outdoors, itself an extension of the trend for ‘feature walls’ and the like indoors.

The newly decorated playground will stand the test of time, Superdec creates a solid colour finish which is weather resistant to UV light and water, meaning long-lasting colour retention.

Commenting on the project, Sharon Smith, Sadolin brand manager said, “The variety of contrasting and complementary colours used in the project utterly transformed the outdoor space, and shows what an impact the use of an opaque woodstain can have. Superdec’s formulation means that it provides a superior finish on almost any wooden surface and will stand the test of time meaning that successive year groups will be able to enjoy this colourful space in the future.” www.sadolin.co.uk

FOR THE LOVE of Scrubs is a countrywide group made up of volunteer sewers donating their time and skills in order to create vital PPE for NHS workers. Their goal is to ensure all PPE requests from NHS workers across the country are met; which has required a nationwide effort as a collective, an enormous amount of organisation, time and community kindness.

The initiative now has a series of regionalised subgroups, and one volunteer in Birmingham discovered that her Brewers paint stirrer given to her at the P&D Show last year was the best tool to achieve perfect corners when turning out masks! Upon hearing this, Brewers arranged for 500 paint stirrers to be distributed to the volunteers.

Pauline Allbutt commented, "I have an account with Brewers, and my son and I have visited the National Painting & Decorating Show at the Ricoh Arena for ideas for his business. Whilst making the masks for the NHS you have to sew them inside out turn them to the right side and push out the corners. I found the paint stirrer the ideal tool – a clean one of course!"

SECTOR NEWS

GOOD NEWS FOR PROFESSIONALS Cities in the UK with the largest number of Google searches (relative to population): City

COMMUNITY PROJECTS GET £5,000 BOOST FROM GETTING SCOUTS around town, to celebrating Darwen’s history, the annual Darwen Community Awards have once again given local worthy causes a boost thanks to grants totalling over £5,000.

The awards are organised by Crown Paints, the town’s biggest employer, in conjunction with Darwen Town Council, and seek to give charities and not-for-profit organisations in the local area much-needed funding to help with a wide range of activities, from upgrading facilities to organising community events.

This year, the recipients of the awards included Bold Venture Scout Group, Darwen Heritage Centre, the Darwen branch of the Royal British Legion, elderly care specialist Derwent Hall, Friends of Square Meadow, and Hoddlesden Village Bowling Club.

The £2,000 donation made through the scheme to the Bold Venture Scout Group will go towards a replacement minibus for the group – essential for members to be able to get to events and activities.

The minibus is a vital resource for the children in the group, many of whom have parents on supported income or who are asylum seekers, or who have no access to a vehicle.

Both Hoddlesden Bowling Club and Friends of Square Meadow will put their funds towards upgraded facilities, and both the Royal British Legion and Darwen Heritage Centre will celebrate the region’s past – the 100 year anniversary of the Legion’s Darwen branch in 2021 and a new exhibition at the Heritage Centre which looks back on ‘A Century of Darwen Weddings’, Darwen trams, and ‘100 Years of Darwen Music’.

Lastly, Derwent Hall will use the donation to help purchase an Able Assist Adjustable Transfer Aid. The equipment will help those elderly who are capable of moving from a seated to a standing position to maintain their dignity and improve their muscle strength by allowing them to assist their carers in moving them from one room to another.

Geraldine Huxley at Crown said, “The work we do with Darwen Town Council to provide funding to these local good causes always fills me with pride, and this year it is particularly important for us to help community groups and not-for-profit organisations.

“As ever, we have a wonderful range of good causes and I am delighted that Crown Paints has been able to make a difference in the lives of so many people in Darwen, from the boys and girls of the Bold Venture Scout Group, to the older people under the care of the wonderful staff at Derwent Hall.”

To find out more about Crown Paints’ commitment to supporting local communities, follow the company on LinkedIn or visit crownpaints.co.uk/crown/corporate

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Searches % of population

Slough

3,520

Bolton

2,370

2.15% 1.70%

Bedford

1,730

1.62%

Newcastle

2,830

1.47%

Manchester

5,780

1.46%

Peterborough

2,280

1.40%

Bournemouth

2,190

1.34%

Warrington

2,040

1.23%

Glasgow

7,030

1.19%

Leeds

5,230

1.15%

PRICEYOURJOB.CO.UK WERE EAGER to discover where in the UK homeowners seek the most help with their home projects, therefore the least DIY savvy.

They analysed 83 of the largest cities in the UK, and found that Slough was the city with the largest number of searches made in relation to their population (2.15%), with 3,520 collective results for 17 professions they may hire at home, including painters, carpenters, and tree surgeons. In second place is Bolton with 2,370 searches (1.68% of the population).

The Welsh cities of Newport, Swansea and Cardiff were the lowest ranking for searches relative to their population, with just an average of 0.17%.

The most popular trades that homeowners across the UK are hiring according to searches? Number one by quite a margin – Painter with 66,629 seaches, with Plasterer in second with 25,810 and Plumbers at 23,830.

So make sure you are online and linked to Google for searches!

BRIGHTENING BEXHILL W.AVE ARTS, A local arts initiative in Bexhill, have set out to spark creativity and encourage discussion in the local community through a number of murals, created with the help of their local Brewers Decorator Centre and their donation of Albany Masonry paint.

Carol Cook, Co-Founder of W.Ave Arts Bexhill, wanted to create a special space for artists, the local community and visitors to hang out and interact.

A mural, located on Cornwall Road near to popular Egerton Park, has been designed and painted by local

artists Michelle Printer and Anthony Elliot based upon a theme of British motor racing that is at the heart of Bexhill’s history.

A delightful caterpillar was designed and painted, using a combination of brush and spray, and is bound to bring smiles to the children, and adults alike, walking along Wickham Ave. Residents Penny and Richard Thomas comment 'We love our happy wall, but most of all we love the smiles on people’s faces as they pass by'.

Also located on Cornwall Road is this amazing representation of a real window, created by professional artist Paco de Quesada and his family.

Brewers Bexhill, located close to all three sites, is very much part of the local community and donated 18.5l of Albany Smooth Masonry paint plus tools and accessories in support of the project.

TRENDS

Colour of the Year 2021

Brave Ground A panel of decorating experts took inspiration from nature in selecting the ™

Panel Chair Heleen van Gent, Head of the AkzoNobel Global Aesthetic

warm and grounding shade of Brave Ground for their choice as Colour of

Centre, which chooses the colours explains, “The past year has seen

the Year. The natural tone creates a neutral canvas allowing other colours

unprecedented change to all our lives. For many it has transformed the

to shine in the home.

function of their homes. They are now environments to work, learn and relax.

Adapting to its surroundings, Brave Ground™ also flexes in tone

“But, above all, during these challenging times, homes provide valuable

depending on the time of day and setting, creating a subtly responsive

respite. And that is at the heart of our Dulux Colour of the Year choice for

environment that’s reflective of people’s growing desire to align how they

2021 - Brave Ground™.”

live with our planet.

Four supporting palettes provide decorators with the opportunity to give their customers inspiration, showing how Brave Ground™ can be used to decorate rooms in complementary colour schemes that create multifunctional but also nurturing home environments.

EARTH Echoing the tones of the sea, sky and soil

30

™

Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Lead at Dulux Trade adds, “The organic tone of Brave Ground™ will allow decorators to talk to customers about creating a really comforting environment within their homes.

“Combining it with the supporting palettes opens up a whole range of possibilities from energizing reds and pinks to unifying earth tones of

TRUST Unifying earth tones of warm greys and browns

TRENDS

To download the guide and see how Brave Ground™ and the supporting palettes can guide help with customers, visit www.duluxtrade.co.uk warm greys and browns, perfect to help customers find a colour scheme for any space.”

Dulux Trade is committed to equipping decorators with the tools and

For more information on Dulux Academy and to book a Dulux Academy ColourFutures™ course, visit www.duluxacademy.co.uk

training they need to support their customers when making colour choices. The Colour of the Year and four supporting palettes provide decorators with the opportunity to really engage with homeowners following the disruption of the pandemic.

Karen adds, “To support decorators in talking to customers about colour, we’ve created a Colour of the Year decorator guide, a handy booklet that

“We’re also helping professionals to be more colour confident with colour and design training courses run by Dulux Academy.

“The range of courses has been expanded in 2020, and for the first time ever, now includes face-to-face and online ColourFutures™ courses. These sessions give decorators the chance to gain more insight into how we

can be used when guiding customers to make those important colour

predict colours for future trends and how we choose names for our colours

decisions, so they are able to show how Brave Ground™ can work in any

and can be attended in person at Dulux Academy in Slough or virtually

customers’ home.

through Dulux Academy Live.”

TIMELESS Inspiring yellows and ochres to bring positivity

EXPRESSIVE Stand-out reds and pinks to energize spaces

31

CASE STUDY

A CLASSIC COTTAGE PDA Member Firm Michael Graham Decorators Ltd recently redecorated a picture-perfect historic cottage to give it a refresh and durable finish.

Michael Graham told us, “The client wanted the outside of the cottage repaired and redecorated to bring it back to its former glory. It's a lovely cottage situated in Atherstone, Warwickshire, but needed restoration.

“We cleaned and washed down all of the stone surfaces, and the windows we prepped and repaired the windows. The exterior stone was finished with Johnstone’s Trade Stormshield to give a durable, long-lasting finish.

“The fine sash windows were prepped and painted using sash brushes, and the wood painted with Rustin’s Light Oak Stain. It was a tricky project, and as ever, we had to be very careful and safety conscious working with ladders over flat roofs.

“We gave the project a seven to eight day timescale, and with good weather, we came in on time and budget.

“The client was delighted with the finished property, and it should be good for the next few years as per our client guarantee.”

Michael Graham Decorators Ltd are a Member of the PDA based in Nuneaton.

You can get in touch with them on 02476 387956 or 07973 416451

32

Clean air with the system. &RnquerLQJ dust together.

Healthy, precise and time-saving work as a decorator. No matter whether it is concrete, tile adhesive or gypsum, in old or new buildings, Festool offers an uncompromising connection between mobile dust extractors and tools. The result: simple and effective health protection in every situation thanks to a perfectly optimised system.

For more information visit www.festool.co.uk/dustfree

CASE STUDY

A

stunning beach house in St Ives, Cornwall was a project undertaken by PDA Member firm Pattern and Paint. Salubrious House is set in an unbeatable location in the heart of St Ives, initially built in 1812 and over the years home to several eminent artists, including Douglas Portway. It was famously one of the best party houses in St Ives, with guests of honour including Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson.

The prerequisite from the client, Tina Mason, for the house redecoration was to give the house a makeover which wasn’t ‘twee or predictable.’ The house is now a mix of coastal style with regency glamour, with Joel and the team at Pattern and Paint delivering under Tina’s excellent interior design skills. Judging by the pictures, we think Pattern and Paint achieved the client brief!

Joel Endersby filled us in with the details on how they completed the task...

Cool vibes for historic house by the sea To work on such a project was a real privilege, working alongside the client’s builder Neil Collard from K Collard and Son in Somerset. Neil set about the renovation with the utmost care and

Each room had its own requirements, we painted some with a brush and

craftsmanship to pave the way for us to continue with the painting and

roller, but with the studio room I decided to use airless spray. This created

decorating under the client’s style vision. We worked for the client on

a seamless finish on what would have been an awkward room to hand paint.

previous projects, and her design ideas are always truly exceptional.

34

The staircase was meticulously stripped from a heavy stain back to the

With my team of James Shoesmith and Andy Bullen, we had a timescale of

bare wood by another member of our team, Swan Memain. After stripping,

three months for the full renovation. We set about working from the outside

the wood was sealed with Osmo White Oil finish to give a natural bleached

and then moved inside. Many of the old sash windows required hours of

out Scandinavian look.

work, which James solidly worked on, along with the exterior walls which

We carried out the work last autumn, and it was one of the wettest

were repainted along with garden walls. We then moved to steadily moving

autumn/winters here in Cornwall, and this made work on the exterior

through every room from start to finish inside the property.

very difficult to keep on schedule.

CASE STUDY The property, in St Ives, Cornwall, is available for holiday rental, for more information visit www.salubrioushousestives.co.uk All photographs courtesy of Ali Hustler alihustlerphotography.myportfolio.com

Materials Used Sikkens Rubbol Primer and Satura Top Coat for interior and exterior joinery Little Greene for masonry, exterior feature walls and exterior doors

As ever, projects always throw up unforeseen problems. In this case, there were some problematic walls which had been previously coated with bitumen, and this had trapped the damp in the walls! However, we overcame these obstacles, completed the project, and were very pleased with the reference.

Tina said, “We would not hesitate to recommend Joel and will be working with him for hopefully years to come. Joel takes a real interest in the properties and decoration, and has exceptional knowledge of paint suitable for different areas. This is something we have never experienced before with decorating services. He goes out of his way to fit in with our schedules and has never let us down, always turning up when he says�.

Little Greene Intelligent Matt emulsion for feature colour walls inside Zinsser Grade 1 for first floor walls and bathrooms Dulux Trade Super Matt for ceilings and Diamond Matt for first floor walls Wallpapers were chosen by the client, which were a mixture of woven finishes for feature walls and a botanical palm wallpaper for the bathroom.

Osmo White Oil for the staircase

Pattern & Paint are Members of the PDA based in Cornwall.

You can visit their website at www.patternandpaint.co.uk or call them on 07864 854649

35

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Bessey Features & Benefits

KliKlamp

‘ Lightweight, only 320g each ‘ ABS handle and trigger

@besseytool_uk

‘ Cam operated multi-stage ratchet

www.bessey.de

When I am doing carpentry, be it repairs to rotten timber or

‘ Quick and vibration-free clamping

replacing skirtings and architraves, in fact any job where I need

‘ Magnesium alloy heads

another pair of hands, nothing beats a clamp.

Using clamps not only keeps the workpiece in place whilst working on it or whilst glue sets, but they also add a safety element... I’ve seen many trades with fingers or thumbs missing.

It’s easy to go for the cheapest tools, but I always invest in quality, something

tool TALK

that can be relied upon and earn its keep over repeated use.

Bessey is a German company renowned for manufacturing high-quality clamps – I think they are world-class! KliKlamp 20 has an opening of 200mm and a throat depth of 80mm, the rail is 5mm thick x 20mm wide x 260mm long, but only weighs 0.32kg, making this the lightest clamp I’ve ever used!

The multi-stage ratchet mechanism, which only needs two fingers to clamp up, creates up to 1200 Newtons of force.

I would always recommend a minimum set of four, but for bigger projects go for a Systainer storage case that comes with four of each size Kliklamp.

Senco

Products independently tested and reviewed

by Award Winning Decorator, Wayne de Wet

DuraSpin DS525-18v @sencobrands

www.senco-emea.com

On a recent project, I had to replace the lath and plaster ceiling which was falling down and dangerous.

On these jobs, I always double board, glue and screw the plasterboard up. This fantastic auto-feed screwdriver is much faster than other tools I’ve used, and you also get a built-in bright LED light which is a nice touch.

The Senco DS525-18v has a patented corner fit feed system and boasts an efficient 5000rpm high torque (5Nm) brushless motor, controlled by a variable speed trigger with lock and reverse. All this comes with the peace of mind of a five-year warranty.

The auto-feed screw magazine hold 50 screws, with various options available for fixing plasterboard to wood or metal studs, cement boards, metal framing, rigid foam insulation etc.

Wood to wood screws are also available for various tasks. Producing 2,500 shots on a full charge, ‘feed on return’ means the next screw is aligned with the drive bit for better eyeing up of positioning. It’s also handy that no tools are needed when adjusting the screw length.

Being able to select and lock the screw drive depth is a bonus, and a quick slide bit change is again a time saver. The front end feed system is removable to expose the drive bit for faster screw reversing.

Battery charging is quick, just 60 minutes to 100% and 15 minutes for 80%, plus it’s pretty lightweight at 2.48kg (with the battery attached) and is comfortable if used for long periods. What I really like about Senco, is that they continuously improve the tools

Features & Benefits

they make, taking note

‘ 50 screws per magazine

of what end-users feed back to them.

‘ 2 x 3Ah Li-Ion extended life batteries

with two drive bits, drywall and wood nose

‘ 18v brushless motor with 0-5000 rpm ‘ 2,500 shots per full battery – 60 min 100% charge ‘ Carry case

‘ Weight 2.48kg (with battery)

36

It is supplied in a robust carry case piece, belt hook (right or left-handed adjustable), two extended life 3.0Ah 18v Li-Ion batteries and a quick charge battery charger.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Tracer

Marking Kits @tracertools

www.tracer-tools.com

Ok, no matter what I am doing the need for a pencil or marker is always there!

I’ve lost count how many I’ve misplaced and wasted time looking for... At last though, my wishes have been answered and I’ve got my marking needs covered.

Tracer Professional Marking toolsets have separate pocket site holsters to protect them and another to store spare replacements 120mm leads (Four 2B

Toupret

graphite for clear dark lines and two yellow wax for darker surfaces).

Joint & Skim

They have thought of everything, even designing a tiny built-in sharpener on the

@toupretuk

holster to keep the lead sharp and pointed for fine detail marking.

The Tracer Deep Hole Construction Pencil, as the name suggests, allows me to easily mark through a 3mm hole on materials up to 100mm in depth, and because of the quality metal shaft through a 6mm hole to a depth of 145mm.

The Tracer Double Tipped Deep Hole Marker is a such a smart product.

Talk with any decorator around the country, and I am sure they will speak highly of Toupret. For me, using products that do what they say they do, means I do not have to worry about the result. Joint & Skim

The reversible metal shaft has a thin and thick black marker at opposite ends,

Ready to Use is a new addition

and the end cap has a slot so you can quickly identify it from the pencil.

to the French manufacturers’

Tracer Professional Contractor Markers (pictured above) are clog-free, which is a bonus, as most I’ve used before clog up and dry out rapidly. Available in

www.toupret.co.uk

filler range – it’s so nice to use!

I have used this white filler

three colours, they’re perfect for many materials I’ve needed to mark, such as

multiple times to skim walls, and

glass, ceramic tile, marble, metal and

it's incredible. The creamy

plastic. They’re also will never be out of

consistency is easy to work with

reach with a handy site holster you can

and apply, but the most

Features & Benefits ‘ Easy sanding for feather edge repairs ‘ Up to 5mm depth

‘ Spray, roll or trowel application ‘ Doesn’t flash or grin – no need to spot prime

(depending on paint finish)

‘ Clean up tools with water

impressive feature is the ease of

clip on your pocket.

sanding afterwards! I was even able to ‘feather out’ repairs and

These two sets of three marking tools are

skimming to nothing.

great value – and excellent quality too.

Drying time is 12hrs–24hrs depending on drying conditions and thickness. A 20kg tub is a perfect size and goes a long way when patch

Features & Benefits

‘ Holster to keep product close to hand

skimming or levelling up old walls and ceilings.

‘ Replaceable 120mm leads

then smoothed out using your chosen method.

‘ Clog free markers in red, blue, black

with minimal shrinkage. It is made from mineral components and

‘ Built-in sharpener on pencil set

This product can be sprayed, troweled, even rolled onto the surface,

‘ Reversible thin and thick marker

Application depth is up to 5mm, and it is suitable for all plasterboard, synthetic resin and for interior use only.

Win it all!

One of each of the items reviewed in this edition of Tooltalk are available to one lucky PDA Member!

For your chance to win, simply send an ema il to tooltalk@the-decorator.co.uk Well done to our most recent winner, Jennifer Anderson-Dixon of Bluebird Interiors Ltd. Enjoy your new prod ucts!

You can find Wayne on...

@ToolTalk1

@ToolTalk1 37

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The Perfect scissors for papering @axusdecor

@axusdecor

www.axusdecor.com

The Axus Décor Onyx series scissors range includes the Perfect Tip HD Scissors 12" (305mm) and the Perfect Tip Precision Scissors 8" (205mm). Made from rust-resistant, stainless steel, they are super sharp, all the way to the tip. They are also made to last and can easily cut through virtually any wallpaper or fabric like no other. The Perfect Tip Precision Scissors 8” (205mm) offer excellent control, especially when cutting into corners, whilst their light weight reduces hand fatigue during various cutting tasks.

UP

tool

Keep up to date with what’s available for the modern decorator

Superior spray www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/spray Dulux Decorator Centre has introduced a brand new range of spray products that promise to cut down labour costs, helping decorators work five times faster than traditional methods. The latest spray equipment from Graco, Tritech and Q-Tech are designed to be simple, cover areas faster and distribute paint for an even finish. DDC put spray to the test with two decorators given the same project – to

Patent not pending

paint two floors of a 530m² building – but one was given a roller and the other a spray machine. While the decorator armed with a roller took 24 hours to complete the project, it took under five and a half hours to spray the entire area involved! To support decorators further, the Dulux Academy offers a range of spray courses at various locations across the UK, so they can learn from an experienced training team to help them master the technique and get the most from spray.

www.ciret.co.uk @CIRET_UK @ciret_ltd Ciret now have the official European Patent for the innovative Premier Kana Tank Brush with its two-in-one combination of natural and synthetic bristles. An inner natural bristle tank holds an exceptional amount of varnish or woodstain, allowing up to 30% extra coverage from each dip, the outer 100% synthetic finely tipped bristle ensures a fine and smooth finish every time. Ciret‘s ROTA!, Kana, masq and prep brands have been specifically designed to provide qualitative solutions for the entire decorating process, from initial preparation right through to the finishing touches, on both interior and exterior projects. Find out more online.

38

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Make the cut

www.makitauk.com

Makita UK has launched a new, lightweight folding mitre saw stand, making it easier than ever to quickly and accurately complete a range of cutting tasks. The portable WST07 mitre saw stand includes tool-less adjustable mitre saw bracket levers, so operators can effortlessly install, adjust and remove the saw from the stand. The sliding rail design also makes it easy to position the mitre saw at the

off the shelf

desired angle. With a maximum extension length of 3,830mm the WST07 can be easily altered for each individual task and can support up to 225kg in weight. The adjustable levelling foot prevents wobbling when working on uneven floor surfaces.

The WST07 is easy to manoeuvre on its castors at just 18kg, two convenient carry handles help transportation between jobs easier.

Albany X Mini Moderns www.brewers.co.uk To celebrate 100 years of Albany paint and wallpapers, a new collection of special prints has been created by the fabulous Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire at Mini Moderns.

Atelier, a fifties inspired design, is based on the treasured finds of Keith and Mark’s visits to the galleries and markets of Paris.

The paper features hand drawn shapes and forms of vintage

Dab hands at jointing www.toupret.co.uk Toupret’s innovative new Joint, Skim & Fill system of products provides both clarity and quality in an easy-to-use range that satisfies the needs of expert painters and decorators. Designed with trades in mind, this versatile range is all about achieving a great finish with the minimum of fuss and time – the Quick Dry products in the range are ready for overpainting in just three hours. For normal applications they require just one coat, remove the need for spot-priming and are excellent for surface finishing, filling or plasterboard jointing. All products are easy to mix, apply and to sand, providing an easy-on first-class finish that feathers well, keeping both trades and homeowners happy.

home accessories inspired by mid-century European art. Atelier is surface printed on a luxurious fibrous paper for added texture and tactility and is available in Midnight & Copper, Snow & Gold, Rose Marais, and Sage.

Taking its name from Fab 208 pop magazine, FAB! is very much drawn from the sixties and features a bold, large scale geometric print. Taking inspiration from Pop, Op and Hard Edge painting movements, Keith and Mark also drew upon their love of sixties fashion for the design, from Carnaby Street to Mary Quant and interiors by Verner Panton. FAB! is available in Washed Denim & Copper, British Lichen & Gold, Mustard, and Harvest Orange.

The Albany X Mini Moderns designs are both paste the wall and are exclusively available from wallpaperdirect.com and brewers.co.uk at £45 per roll.

39

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Spraying gets even Easyer

Building on the success of their professional craftsmen product offering, tesa has announced the launch of a new paint spraying range which will include brand new tesa Easy Cover® products to provide all the essentials for spraying with confidence on both internal and external jobs.

tesa.co.uk/spraywithtesa The paint spraying preparation range, available from the end of October, introduces the new Easy Cover® Outdoor UV, Easy Cover® Outdoor UV Extra Strong and Easy Cover® Precision Standard Paper, offering sprayers professional covering solutions to save time and money. Together with the already popular Precision Mask® tapes, Easy Cover® Precision, and the introduction of tesa 4836 Double Sided Masking Tape, tesa makes fast, efficient, and quality spraying possible without the risk of having to redo work.

Weather-resistant for external spraying Masking and protecting large areas, especially outdoors can be a time-consuming job but, the new tesa Easy Cover® UV makes it simple.

The two-in-one solution is a combination of a PE film and thicker outdoor tape that is UV resistant for up to two weeks. Ideal for outdoor spraying jobs to achieve a sharp paint edge, especially on rougher textures found in outdoor environments.

For jobs with a longer time-frame, the new Outdoor UV Extra Strong is equipped with an eight week UV stable cloth masking tape and thicker foil, suitable for spray plaster and rendering.

Sprayers can complete their outdoor toolkit with 4440 Precision Mask® Outdoor. With a waterproofed base it can be used outdoors for up to 26 weeks, including on slightly rough surfaces while still delivering razor-sharp paint edges, even on challenging outdoor areas.

Smart indoor spraying solutions Preparing for a spray job without imperfections indoors is made easy with the new tesa Easy Cover® Precision Standard Paper, which is ideal for masking skirting boards, windowsills, and door frames.

The new two-in-one solution consists of a three-month precision edge masking tape for razor-sharp edges and a strong, easy to handle paper that prevents accidental overspray. Available in 25m x 300mm or 25m x 180mm.

The spraying range also includes the Easy Cover® Precision with residue-free removal for up to 6 months, the popular Precision Mask® for razor-sharp spray paint edges and tesa 4836 Double Sided Masking Tape that is ideal for keeping extra dust sheets in place.

@tesaUK_tape @tesa_uk 40

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Getting tough for 2020 www.farrow-ball.com Many of us are feeling more strongly than ever the need to ensure that our homes, and the people we share them with, are as safe and comfortable as possible. Eco-friendly paint manufacturer Farrow & Ball have now release a family-friendly Modern Emulsion finish, ideally suited to the demands of life at home. The team of artisanal craftsmen and dedicated chemists at the brand’s Dorset factory have created a finish that combines beauty and durability to meet the needs of busy modern homes, while staying true to the eco-friendly ethos that underpins the 100% water based Farrow & Ball range. Modern Emulsion is easy to clean, super tough, protected against mould, and it’s easy to apply. The entire Modern and Estate interior paint ranges are also certified child and baby safe in accordance with EU toy safety standards, so you can bring colour to nursery walls, cots, and even toys without worry.

THROUGH LAYERS OF

PAINT & VARNISH ‘The brand you can trust’

One tube to seal them all

THE AWARD WINNING FORMULA THAT’S

www.ob1original.com OB1 is a multi-surface construction sealant and adhesive containing no solvents or isocyanates resulting in an A+ rating for air quality. It is odourless and kind to the environment as well as being safe for use in residential, domestic and industrial applications. OB1 bonds and seals copper, aluminium, wood & MDF, mirror, lead, concrete, polystyrene, glass, tile, polycarbon, PVC and felt. Plus, OB1 works in damp conditions and even under water!

EASY TO APPLY

NON-DRIP GEL FORMULA

REMOVES METALISED PAINTS

SIZES: 250ml - 4 Litres For all enquiries, contact our sales office:

email: sales@barrettine.co.uk www.barrettinePro.co.uk

Gold winner of the DIY Week Decorating Product of the Year 2011.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

The ultimate chalky finish www.littlegreene.com Little Greene has built up a well-deserved reputation for not just its imaginative colour palette but also for the outstanding quality of its

hours) and virtually odourless. Its superb coverage means that it is high in

paints. Its original finish, Absolute Matt Emulsion, is more popular than

opacity, efficient, economical and easy to apply with minimal disruption –

ever and even appears to be the ‘choice’ of Lockdown DIY enthusiasts.

a room can easily be decorated in a day.

The last word in flat, matt paints, with a ‘barely-there’ low-sheen of only

Containing zero added VOCs, Absolute Matt Emulsion is kind to the

3%, Absolute Matt Emulsion produces the sublime chalky finish, often

environment, pet-friendly and, with child-safe certification under

referred to as ‘dead matt’.

BS EN71-3:2019 (Toy Paint Regulations), it is also completely safe to use

This glorious, environmentally-friendly finish provides a more luxurious,

in children’s rooms making it a very smart choice for the family home.

less utilitarian option to its Intelligent Matt cousin (which was formulated

Absolute Matt Emulsion is available in all shades of the Little Greene

specifically to withstand the rough and tumble of busy households).

colour palette. Superb in all hues, it appears especially rich and

However, thanks to the Little Greene technical team, Absolute Matt

sumptuous in darker shades, such as Obsidian Green, Basalt and Lamp

Emulsion is also wipeable, so not just beautiful but practical too!

Sophisticated and understated, Absolute Matt Emulsion can be used on many different surfaces including walls, ceilings and plaster work. It offers

42

Being water-based, Absolute Matt Emulsion is quick-drying (two to four

Black, as its flat matt finish affords a real depth to the colour due to the subtle texture of its chalky surface.

Absolute Matt Emulsion comes in 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 litre cans, as well as

the perfect choice for a bedroom, living room or study – indeed any area

60ml sample pots – through stockists nationwide. They can also be

of low traffic where the desired effect is an unequivocally beautiful result.

bought via mail, phone order and online at www.littlegreene.com

ROLL AND GO BUCKET 18 and 25 PAINT TOOLS 2.0

Integrated rolling surface.

Bucket 18 for rollers up to 7”/18 cm.

Bucket 25 for rollers up to 10”/25 cm Use with disposable liners.

$_-mhv |o |_; 1o ;u o 1-m 0ub;Y store the paint and roller in the bucket.

mad e from 1 0 0 % re c ycl e d

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

www.hamiltonexpression.com

More than a feeling In research conducted recently by professional decorating tools manufacturer Hamilton, the ‘feel’ of the brush ranked number four in the top ten most important factors when choosing a brush. But what is the ‘feel’ and why is it so important?

Put simply, the ‘feel’ refers to the way the brush feels in your hand.

Several areas of the upper body can be affected but pain in the hands

Think about it; this tool is in your hand for eight hours a day, it’s like an

and wrists is most likely for professional decorators. Symptoms that

extension of your arm! If it feels uncomfortable in anyway, your mind will

start off as a mild ache can quickly develop into more severe pain and

not be on the job, focus will be lost and it’s likely that the finished result

swelling, requiring medication, physiotherapy and extended periods of

will suffer. Not great in an industry where your reputation matters.

rest, all of which may impact your business.

Even more worryingly, aches and pains can develop, leading to more serious conditions like repetitive strain injury (RSI).

So, both financially and health-wise, ensuring that your brush has the

Advice on the NHS website includes ensuring that all aspects of your workplace are as comfortable as possible and that includes the feel of your brushes being right for you.

right ‘feel’ is incredibly important.

Sarah Coussens at Hamilton said, “Talking to professional painters and decorators for our research highlighted the ways in which the feel of the brush can impact them and their jobs.

“Comfort was a big issue, with many stating that without comfort, there was little control, and reduced control had a negative effect on their confidence in the finish. Many compared it to holding a pen, in that the brush has to be balanced in the hand, easy to use and allow a flow to develop whilst they are painting.

“In fact, one respondent said, ‘The feel is crucial, your brush is an

Hamilton have a range of videos online providing advice and techniques.

extension of you and displays your talent, you couldn’t be a good footballer with a burst ball!’. This statement clearly demonstrates how

Hamilton knows

passionately professional decorators feel about the results that they

Hamilton invests heavily in its research and development, employing not

deliver to their customers and how they look at every aspect of their

only designers, materials specialists and chemists, but also consulting

tools to ensure they can achieve the best outcome on their jobs.”

with its professional decorating customers to make sure they deliver the high-quality range of brushes that Hamilton is renowned for.

Avoiding injury

From the filaments, to the ferrule, to the handle, Hamilton carefully

The repetitive movements that are part of the painting process can

considers how each component will work for the decorator, aiming for

present a hazard, especially when your tools don’t ‘fit’ you properly.

not only a fantastic finish but also a comfortable experience... the

Repetitive strain injury is a real issue for some.

essence of the ‘feel’.

Beautiful well-balanced beavertail wooden handles that sit perfectly in the hand or longer handles that are easy to hold, like a pencil, came top in the research. Customers said that they give great control when cutting in or painting in tricky spaces and are designed to satisfy discerning decorators.

Sarah concluded, “Working closely with professional decorators gives us real insight into what they want and need in a brush. And whilst describing the ‘feel’ might sometimes be elusive, we like to think that we have captured its essence within our brushes.”

44

tesa® PROFESSIONAL

PERFECT RESULTS EVERYTIME #SPRAYWITHTESA

NEWGE RAN

SPRAY SPECIFIC RANGE SUITABLE INDOORS AND OUTDOORS INCREASE EFFICIENCY ON THE JOB

tesaUK

tesaUK

tesaUK

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@tesaUK_tape

tesa.co.uk/spraywithtesa

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Johnstone’s Trade invited an experienced group of painters and decorators to its head offices to test out Aqua Guard, the manufacturer’s new durable, water based trim paint. During the day, the group had the chance to discuss common issues they experience on the job, experiment with the application of Aqua Guard and ask the PPG technical team their most pressing questions. David Baines, technical specification manager at PPG, explains how the day went...

Putting paint through its paces WHAT DECORATORS THINK OF THE LATEST PRODUCT FROM JOHNSTONE’S TRADE Aqua Guard Durable Water Based Satin is the latest product from Johnstone’s Trade. It’s a brand new, water based satin paint designed to defend interior wood and metal surfaces against everyday wear and tear.

Developed in line with the needs of today’s professional painters and decorators, Aqua Guard has been formulated with Surface Protection technology to ensure a long-lasting, pristine finish to any trim surface.

Gathering insight

www.johnstonestrade.com/aqua-guard When we were discussing application, the biggest issue the decorators said they face is visible application marks. We asked the decorators, Chris and Matthew Green and Nick Torrano Harling, to apply Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard to see how it compares to other paints.

Nick commented, “My first impression of Aqua Guard is that it’s simply a fantastic paint. One of the downsides to using other water based paints

To kick-start the day, the group of painters and decorators gathered to

is that you typically get a lot of visible brush marks, but this isn’t the

discuss the common issues they experience when it comes to the

case with Aqua Guard. It applies and leaves a finish just like an oil based

application and durability of paint, and the benefits of using water based

product, but with all the benefits of water based. It will also stay whiter

over solvent based coatings.

for longer, which will be a major benefit for my customers.”

When it comes to durability, we discovered from the group that wear

Adding to this, Chris Green said, “The application and finish you get

and tear is most commonly an issue on kitchen floors, doors, banisters

from using Aqua Guard is everything we as decorators are looking for.

or any surface that is touched frequently. This is because the natural oils

It’s the best trim paint I’ve ever used.”

that come from people’s hands can cause most paints to soften.

The day was a great success and the decorators really got stuck into

However, with Aqua Guard’s Surface Protection Technology, a barrier is

putting Aqua Guard through its paces. For us, the insights and feedback

created to prevent this, ensuring ultimate resistance.

we received were highly beneficial – it’s always good to catch up with professionals to get their thoughts on the wider industry and the challenges they’re facing, to ensure we’re developing solutions that will directly resolve their problems and make their lives easier.

Johnstone’s Trade Aqua Guard with Surface Protection technology

Standard Interior Trim

Ultimate defence; Surface Protection technology works as a guard

Wear and tear as a result of grease, dirt and scratches

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Grease and dirt Trim with Surface Protection technology Primer Time

Scratch resistance defends against wear and tear

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PREMIER STAR BRUSH

A premier paint brush for the professional Kana Star guarantees quality results and consistent performance for longer. A perfectly balanced synthetic bristle mix promises up to 5 times longer life than standard bristle, making it the ideal premium brush for the professional decorator. Its unique swellresistant plastic ferrule prevents unwanted ZDWHU GDPDJH DQG DOORZV IRU H΍RUWOHVV EUXVK care and storage.

PREMIER TOPTEX ROLLER SLEEVE

Premium quality for performance & brilliant results ROTA’s much-loved Toptex roller sleeve, made of advanced, ultra-absorbent woven polyester, promises best paint pick-up and JUHDWHU FRYHUDJH ΖWV KLJK GHQVLW\ ȴEUHV OHDYH D SHUIHFWO\ VPRRWK ȴQLVK ZKHQ XVHG ZLWK emulsion and water-based paints. Increase \RXU ZRUN HɝFLHQF\ ZKLOVW JHWWLQJ WKH SURIHVVLRQDO ȴQLVK \RX GHVHUYH

by

www.ciret.co.uk

email: sales@ciret.co.uk

tel: 02392 457450

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SCUFFS DON’T STAND A CHANCE

Dulux Decorator Centre is pleased to announce that NEW Dulux Trade Scuffshield Matt is now stocked both online and in-store.

Protecting walls in high-traffic spaces, its unique formula withstands knocks and bumps from everyday objects, leaving your paintwork scuff-free and looking pristine for longer.

• ULTIMATE SCUFF RESISTANCE • CLEANABLE MATT FINISH • SCRUB AND STAIN RESISTANT

WITH SCUFFSHIELD MATT

WITH STANDARD MATT

We promise our paint will give you the perfect colour with a uniform finish and the coverage stated, or we’ll replace it. Visit dulux.co.uk/promise Terms and conditions apply. Claims must be made within 6 months of purchase. Proof of purchase required. Colour claims limited to 10L per-customer.

Manufacturer’s tips and instructions must have been followed. UK purchases only.

Visit your local store or visit duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk today